TINTON FALLS – Monmouth County officials will continue to have an “exchange of information” with Tinton Falls stakeholders regarding a plan to improve the flow of vehicles through an accident-prone intersection in the borough.
During a special meeting on Aug. 1 at the municipal building, more than 100 members of the public attended a hearing that was held to clear up what county officials called misconceptions regarding preliminary plans for the intersection of Sycamore and Hance avenues.
Residents have acknowledged the intersection is dangerous, but they have questioned the improvements that have been put forward by the county to address the situation. Residents have said they would prefer a plan that is less intrusive to a residential area of the borough.
In the weeks following a Borough Council meeting on July 11 at which the situation at the intersection was discussed, residents placed signs on their lawns which state “Stop Monmouth County’s Urban Blight.”
Monmouth County officials have outlined two concept plans for intersection improvements at Sycamore Avenue (county Route 13A) and Hance Avenue (county Route 51), and at the intersection of Sycamore Avenue and Hope Road (a borough thoroughfare).
Sycamore and Hance avenues accommodate one lane of travel in each direction. Residents described the location as a high-volume traffic area that is prone to motor vehicle accidents.
Monmouth County Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone, who led the public hearing portion of the Aug. 1 special meeting, began the evening by addressing what he described as a misconception some residents have – that the county wants to assume ownership of Hope Road.
Residents said they fear Tinton Falls will relinquish ownership of Hope Road, allowing county officials to move forward in the redevelopment process without taking into account the concerns that have been raised by the borough’s stakeholders.
“We never had any intentions of taking Hope Road,” Arnone said.
Arnone, who said issues at Hance and Sycamore avenues have been ongoing since 2006, said concept plans that have been put forth by the county are preliminary. He said any potential solution in the area will require additional research and planning before work can begin.
“This got blown out of proportion,” Arnone said. “Maybe we were at some sort of fault for that blowing out and the way it was explained, but this is such a long process. Our current status was to look at the safety issues and expend a significant amount of resources. The plans are conceptual. That is all that is.”
Arnone said he met with small groups prior to the Aug. 1 meeting to get a feel for the types of concerns residents have about what may occur at Hance and Sycamore avenues.
“They were pleased with the outcome of our long-term planning on how we are envisioning this and what our process is … We brought (residents) in to gauge their input so we can look back and explore our avenues,” Arnone said. “(Residents) were very happy we were going to engage them in these situations.”
The residents’ areas of concern pertains to the potential elimination of trees, the timing of the existing traffic light at Hope Road and Sycamore Avenue, the speed limit on area roads, and the location of utility poles, Arnone said.
“There are no trucks coming out tomorrow, digging up roads, putting up traffic lights, expanding roads and acquiring property … There is a lot of work down the road. We are looking for input,” Arnone said.
Residents who spoke expressed apprehension about any type of upgrades to existing roads because they said they fear such improvements will lead to an increase in the number of vehicles traveling through the area.
Arnone said county officials are willing to work with stakeholders to develop a plan that is favorable to the residents of Tinton Falls and improves the situation at Hance and Sycamore avenues.
“The next steps are to contact the New Jersey Department of Transportation regarding the speed limits, and taking everyone’s thoughts and ideas into consideration as county engineers work on creating a plan for the intersection,” Arnone said.
Current concept plans presented by county engineers — but not approved at any level — call for the expansion of Hance and Sycamore avenues to accommodate the number of vehicles currently using those roads and a projected increase in the number of vehicles that will use them in upcoming years.
The first concept plan proposes the extension of Hope Road, upgrades to traffic signals, and an increase in the number of lanes in either direction of the targeted road.
The second concept plan proposes the construction of a traffic signal at the intersection of Hance and Sycamore avenues, upgrades to the existing traffic light at the intersection of Hope Road and Sycamore Avenue, and the expansion of the targeted roads.
Peter Karavites, of Sycamore Avenue, said, “I would like the public to know that (county officals) are doing us a favor … I am asking the public to keep it calm because I think they want to work with us … We are not the opposition.”